Indiana football’s historic season was full of memorable moments.
The Hoosiers captured their first-ever national championship and became the first team since the 1890s to finish 16-0. The Daily Hoosier has compiled our list of the top 10 plays and moments from IU’s march to the title. If you missed any previous posts in this series, check them out at the links below.
No. 10: Special teams sends Memorial Stadium into pandemonium against Illinois
No. 9: Indiana doesn’t budge at the Rose Bowl
No. 8: Mikail Kamara steps up in the National Championship Game
No. 7: “CHARLIE B.! FROM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE!”
No. 6: A moment of magic at Iowa
No. 5: A mighty response at Oregon
No. 4: ‘The drive’ and ‘the catch’
No. 3: Setting the tone in Atlanta
No. 2: Sharpe secures the title
After placekicker Nico Radicic drilled a 35-yard field goal, Indiana’s national championship dreams came down to one last defensive stand.
The Hoosiers led Miami 27-21 with 1:42 left in the CFP National Championship Game, leaving the Hurricanes with a chance to drive for a game-winning touchdown. They had no timeouts remaining, but enough time left to make it happen.
And Miami’s offense picked up some real momentum. A roughing the passer penalty on defensive tackle Mario Landino spotted the Canes a first down, and moved the chains twice more in the next three plays. A nervous energy swept over the IU sections in Hard Rock Stadium.
Curt Cignetti called a timeout after the third first down, which put UM on the Indiana 41-yard line.
Cignetti pulled his defense into a huddle in front of the sideline, and — uncharacteristically — he got in the middle of the huddle and talked to his players. He specifically said something to Landino, as well as linebacker Aiden Fisher.
The message was simple.
“He said, ‘Just go out there and play,'” Landino told The Daily Hoosier after the game. “And that’s what we did.”
Right after that timeout, Indiana finished the job.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck dropped back to pass and looked downfield for wide receiver Keelan Marion. But he left the throw short, and IU cornerback Jamari Sharpe dropped off his zone coverage and intercepted the ball.
The Hoosiers had worked on that exact look and play during the week leading up to the game, and it paid off.
“That was incredible. (Cornerbacks) coach (Rod) Ojong been coaching Sharpe about the hole shot in cover 2; the whole week, we’ve been talking about it,” safeties coach Ola Adams told TDH on the field after the game. “Amare (Ferrell) was a little bit out of position, and Carson Beck tried to thread that ball in there. That was the right throw. Jamari sunk under it like we teach him, and he made an interception.
Jamari’s from Miami. Just to see him play opposite of (D’Angelo) Ponds and get his moment, it’s just extraordinary. Cause that kid’s worked so hard to improve and get to where he’s at.”
The ensuing moments became a blur for Indiana players. Sharpe and Louis Moore ran into the end zone to celebrate, which drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that put Indiana in an uncomfortable position to kneel out the clock. Ferrell said he blacked out after Sharpe made the pick, realizing the Hoosiers were going to win the national championship.
Both Ferrell and Moore noted some irony in Sharpe being the one to make the big play.
“I was amazed, honestly. Because Sharpe been dropping picks, honestly. He drop them all the time,” Moore told TDH in the locker room. “But that’s special for him. He’s from Miami. That’s something he gonna remember all the time. He sealed the game! I’m proud of my boy. Happy for him.”
This play has become a little overshadowed among some other highlights from this game and throughout the season, as Indiana’s national championship became a reality. But it’s hard to overstate how close Miami was to pulling off a massive upset in the title game, and how much momentum it had on that final drive. The Hurricanes had scored touchdowns on their last two offensive possessions, and they had the ball moving like they were going to do it again.
But Cignetti’s timeout, followed by the biggest play of Jamari Sharpe’s life, made sure the Hoosiers would be the ones lifting the trophy.
“It was an amazing feeling, getting a game-winning pick in my hometown in front of my family. Growing up in Miami, I always wanted to be on the big stage,” Sharpe said during the week after the game. “It was just an amazing experience to catch the game-winning interception for my team.”
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